Even now, the guys had walked over to play a video game while they waited, and she and Cherry sat on one of the benches. David stood at an angle so she lined up within his sight, and every few seconds he’d look her way and smile.
“Things between you and Dave going okay?” Cherry asked while watching the guys.
“It’s been fun. We’re enjoying each other and not really worrying about what comes next. At least I’m not.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re giving him a chance. He’s a good guy. There’s really more to him than what you see on the surface, and he’s perfect for you.”
“That’s what I keep hearing, but how long will he be perfect for me? He’s not had a great track record.”
The little buzzer in her lap went off, giving her a cheap thrill.
“Maybe he hasn’t found the right one before?” Cherry pulled her up off the bench and they headed toward the guys.
“He’s dated enough, he should have. How many women has he dated since we’ve met him? Four? Five?”
Cherry reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. “Honey, the number of women is one. They had been dating off and on for months, from what Jason told me. The two of them broke up before the guys drove the first nail into the rec center. From what I’ve heard, she was a man-eating barracuda and Dave did everything he could to make her happy before calling it quits. Other than that, it’s been you.”
Yeah, she’d met Barbie or whatever her name was, and the woman fit the description. What Cherry said didn’t make sense. David was constantly running off for his “hot dates,” as he’d put it. Something he’d said to her one day niggled her brain before flashing the giant lightbulb in her skull.
“I’m such an idiot.” Cherry gave her an amused, yet confused look. “His hot dates were the Habitat projects. When I first ran into him at the site, he told me he loved his work, that the Habitat for Humanity projects were his mistresses, the love of his life. Talk about being thick in the head.”
“Nah, you were pretty busy between the rec center and work. Now you know, so stop holding back.” Cherry snatched the buzzer and walked it over to the waiting hostess while the rest followed her to the table.
During dinner, Tawny kept mulling over both her sister-in-law’s comments and Cherry’s. She couldn’t deny being with David had been good for her. She was relaxed (who wouldn’t be with nightly sex), having fun more often (again, the sex got a lot of credit there too), and yet, work was going well. No, it was going fantastic. Both of the Spinellis were beyond pleased with her performance, clients had no complaints, and she accomplished more each day while going home on time and not stressed out. Granted, her house looked like Hurricane Sandy had whipped through it (again, she’d have to blame the sex).
Before Tawny knew it, dinner was over and David was dragging her to the gaming area. Cherry and Jason headed in one direction (toward the Skee-Ball games) and she and David faced off next to the air hockey table.
“Ready to put your money where your mouth is, Torres?”
“What do you got in mind, Farber?”
He crossed those delicious arms of his over his chest, looking all badass and tough guy. “Loser has to make dinner this weekend and pamper the winner, catering to his every whim. Including making snacks for the Pats game on Sunday.”
He sounded pretty sure of himself. Time to play dirty. “I have a better suggestion. Loser plays out the winner’s sexual fantasy.”
The pupils of his piercing blue eyes expanded as his jaw went slack, telling her she’d already won the bet no matter who won the game.
“And they say us guys only think of sex. Okay, you’re on. Do I at least get a hint as to your fantasy?”
She picked up the air hockey thingamabob that you hit the disc with, took up her position, and put on what she hoped was a sexy face (probably more like a deranged clown). “Whips and chains, baby. Whips and chains.”
His jaw dropped with an audible thud. Oh wait, no, that was the sound of the plastic disc sliding into the home slot as she scored the first point. Dave looked down in shock. Didn’t see that coming, did you, big boy? Yeah, she could play dirty when called for. He retrieved the disc and smiled.
“Game on,” he said as the disc sailed across the table and he scored the next point.
They went back and forth, both trying their best to outdo the other. In the end, David won 6–5. Tawny wasn’t ready to give up. He’d issued a challenge and it was more about winning (well, who didn’t like to win), it was about getting what she wanted. It was about finding the old Tawny who never backed down until she achieved her goal.
“Best two out of three?” she asked.
She won the next game thanks to some random kid asking David when they’d be done. The third game ran point for point.
“May as well call it now, darling, this game is mine.” David sent another disc sailing home. “I think we should modify our bet. Loser not only acts out the winner’s fantasy but also makes the snacks for Sunday’s game. By the way, I like my wings spicy.”
“That’s nice. I prefer those little BBQ sausages, sweet with a little kick to them.”
“Oh, and don’t forget the seven-layer dip and chips. Can’t have a game without chips and salsa.”
“I’m thinking we should have quiche.” She leaned forward to reach the disc and gave it everything she had to send it home.
The game lit up and declared her a winner. She did a little happy Snoopy dance. David stood with his head hung low, shaking it back and forth.
“You cheated, Torres.”
“I did not. How did I cheat?”
He walked up and wrapped his arms around her. “When you leaned over, I could see down your shirt. That was unsportsmanlike conduct.”
She smacked him in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me I was flashing people every time I leaned over? There are families running around here.”
He kissed her on the nose. “And miss the view? Not in this lifetime. Besides, I want to see this stash of whips and chains of yours. Let’s go find our ride and get out of here.”
Together they wove around the various videos games hand in hand, looking for Cherry and Jason, whom they found talking to a familiar face near the gaming center exit.
“Tawny!” Emma from the bank gave her a big hug. “We miss you so much at work. How’s the new job going?”
“Great, tell everyone hi for me. Where’s the baby?”
“She’s with Grandma for a couple of hours while Tom and I have some downtime.” Emma glanced toward David and then down at their joined hands.
“Emma, this is my boyfriend, Dave Farber.” There she’d said it, out loud and proud, and it felt damn good not to hide anymore.
The five of them talked for a few minutes more before Emma said she’d better get back before her hubby ate all of her fries. She leaned in to give Tawny one more hug and whispered in her ear, “He beats Doglover12 hands down.”
She had to agree with her former coworker. They made their way down the first set of escalators and Cherry stopped for a moment in front of a store with formal dresses in the display window. “I know we promised no wedding talk tonight, but have you picked out your dress yet?”
“No. Alex and I were planning to go sometime next week. I know you said it’s up to me what I pick, but you really need to give me a hint as to color or style.”
“That red one right there.” Cherry pointed to a gorgeous dress with a cross-wrap bodice and a hip-hugging skirt. “Dave, don’t you think Tawny would look amazing in that dress?”
“She looks great in anything.”
She sighed and turned back to Tawny. “They think they’re being helpful when they make those kinds of comments. Oh hey, I meant to tell you, your mom called a little while ago. She’s invited Jason and me to lunch on Sunday for marriage counseling from Father Pat. Apparently, the good father is willing to do a group session.”
“Good, then I’ll have backup.”
“
Sorry to disappoint. We’re having lunch with my grandparents.”
She stared at the dress for a few seconds longer before they headed for the next set of escalators taking them down. “They could come to lunch too. The more the merrier.”
Cherry laughed. “Not a good idea. Do you remember last Christmas? Father Pat and Gramps got into it over a football game. Gramps hasn’t forgiven him yet for rooting against Notre Dame.”
Dave pulled her closer as they walked toward the parking lot. “What’s going on Sunday?”
“My mother.” She explained the situation and that she’d promised Mateo she’d be there to run interference and keep their mother on her best behavior. “So even though she knows Father Pat can’t perform Mateo and Alastair’s vows for them, she insists on him giving them premarital classes—off the record, of course.”
“I’ll go with you,” he offered.
“Do you know what you’re declaring to my parents by being there?” No way could he understand her mother’s mind. If Dave went with her on Sunday, it was the same thing as telling her parents his intentions toward her were headed in the same direction as her brother’s and his fiancé. No way could she let him do that. “Dave, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t let you do it.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he looked her in the eyes. “Tawny, I want to be there for you.”
He did too, it was in his voice and his eyes and the way he held her. Maybe this was his way of telling her he wanted more than just a few weeks of fun. “I can’t guarantee she’s going to be nice to you. She really has her heart set on Ivan.”
“Then she can run away with Ivan, if your dad doesn’t kill him first.”
“My dad likes him too.”
“Then they can both run away with Mr. Perfect. Unless you’d rather be with Ivan.”
“No. It’s not that at all. It’s just my mom can be—”
“Scary,” Jason and Cherry chimed in together from the car.
They had no idea—well, Cherry did. Tawny wouldn’t put it past her mom to poison Dave’s food if the woman thought he was getting in the way of her “I want more grandkids” plan.
“I’m not afraid of your mom.”
In the words of the great and wise Yoda, she thought, You will be.
Chapter Seventeen
Sunday, Dave found himself standing on the Torres’s front steps with Tawny blocking his path. “What are you doing?”
“Last chance. I’m telling you, cut and run now. Save yourself while you can. Once we walk through that door, I can’t guarantee your safety.” She stood with her arms outstretched to grasp the railings.
He kissed her on the forehead, hugged her and told her everything would be okay. At least he hoped he was right. He had no delusions that Katia Torres would suddenly accept him and consider him better for her daughter than Mr. Suave and Sophisticated. When he told Tawny he wasn’t afraid of her mom, he meant it; it wasn’t like she was going to stab him in the back as he walked down the hallway and then throw his body in the basement. Or at least he hoped that nightmare didn’t come true.
Tawny meant something to him, more than anyone else ever had, other than his mom and the guys. If she needed him, he’d be there for her. Simple as that. He just hoped she never needed him to face off against spiders.
Tickling her sides, she jumped and let go of the railing, allowing him to step past her and knock on the front door.
“We can just walk in.”
“You can. I can’t, and I’d rather start on her good side.”
Katia Torres opened the door and looked at her daughter with a smile before wrapping her in a hug. “Mija, it’s so good to see you.” And then she saw Dave and her smile turned upside down. “Is there something wrong with your car?”
Ouch. The lady wasted no time in establishing her feelings. He’d been warned. “Mrs. Torres, you look beautiful as always. You’ll have to forgive your daughter. She told me you were making your apple empañadas again and I insisted on coming with her.”
“Mom, Dave is here as my guest.”
“You like my cooking?” Mrs. Torres ignored her daughter’s comment.
“Only a crazy person with no taste buds wouldn’t like your cooking. I don’t suppose you’d teach me how to make them sometime, would you?”
She opened the door wider and stepped aside so they could enter her home. “Men don’t belong in the kitchen, except my George. I’ll make them for you.”
Tawny shot him a quick glance over her mother’s head and mouthed “poisoned apples, evil queen.” He’d take his chances, as the older woman appeared to be softening to him and he really did have a weakness for her cooking. They followed her into the living room where Mr. Torres grunted at them, the good father shook his hand and hugged Tawny. Mateo and Alastair walked out of the kitchen with a tray of coffee that they put on the table before greeting them.
Mateo clasped him on the shoulder and whispered, “You’re either brave or stupid, my friend.”
Dave thought maybe a little of both.
“Alastair, sit. Let me get your tea for you. Do you take it with lemon or milk?” Mrs. Torres fussed around her future son-in-law as the rest took seats.
Alastair refused to let his fiancé’s mom wait on him and instead he played host, which earned him a scowl from Mr. Torres (or maybe that was the same scowl he’d been wearing when Dave and Tawny arrived) and a smile from Mrs. Torres.
“My Mateo’s so lucky to have found you. Do you have any unmarried siblings? Mateo’s older brother, Dante, is still single.” She let out one of those disappointing sighs all kids know. “As is Tawny.”
“Mom, we’re not here to talk about me or Dante. It’s Mateo and Alastair’s day. Can we stay focused, please?”
“Gentlemen.” Father Pat turned to her brother and fiancé. “We can go outside and talk, if you’d rather have this discussion in private. Normally, we would do this, just the three of us, in my office.” He shot Mrs. Torres a smile and a look that Dave interpreted as “be quiet.”
“Thank you, Father. Mateo and I discussed it, and we are fine with his family being present.”
“Alrighty then. Marriage is not to be taken lightly. As you both know, the Church frowns upon divorce, believing that when two people come together in holy matrimony, it is for life. Your willingness to participate in this discussion shows your commitment to each other. There are many topics we’ll want to cover today, but let’s start with children. Have you discussed with each other whether or not you want kids?”
Mateo took Alastair’s hand in his. “We plan to adopt two children in a couple of years. This way Alastair can stay home with the first one for a year and then I can with the second one.”
“Only two?” Mrs. Torres held her hands to her chest with a crushed look on her face.
“Katia, you promised not to interrupt,” Father Pat scolded.
“My apologies, Father,” she said in a sad, dejected voice.
“Good, good. You boys are ahead of the game. What about finances? Have you talked about who will handle the money? Separate or joint accounts? Budgets? Adoption and children are expensive, as is life, retirement, and death.”
Dave’s head came up at the last part. Jeez, the guys hadn’t even said “I do” and the priest was talking about dying. Maybe he figured if he couldn’t marry them, he could at least bury them.
This time Alastair spoke up first. “We’ll have both. A joint checking account to pay for household expenses, entertainment, children, as well as a joint savings account for the future. We’ll also have separate accounts for our own personal spending. This way Mateo won’t know what he’s getting for Christmas or his birthday.”
Tawny laughed, and when Dave looked her way, she shrugged.
“He snoops,” she muttered.
Alastair and the parents all nodded in agreement.
“We’ll do the bills together and we’ve both already set up retirement plans,” said the snoop in question.
; This didn’t surprise Dave, as he knew Tawny had already set up her IRA accounts and talked to both Cherry and Jason about theirs. She might not work in finance anymore, but her head was still in the game. Dave zoned out for a few while they continued to talk money. Mentally he ran through the B&B project, checking off items and trying to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. They were near to completion and he wanted, no, needed to prove to the guys and himself that he could be counted on to lead the projects. He didn’t wanted this job in the beginning, but as he’d come to terms with how to deal with his ADD, he found he liked the sense of accomplishment the job gave.
A lot of credit went to Tawny. She’d set him up with a top ten list and talked him into delegating to his workers. He was still working on cutting out the caffeine like she’d suggested. He’d cut it down, but a body needed something to jump-start the brain in the morning, especially when he didn’t get a full night’s sleep.
Not that he’d complain about that.
The priest’s voice cut into his thoughts as he brought up fighting. What would Tawny be like in an argument? So far they’d been lucky and hadn’t had any arguments, which surprised him, given how things were with Mandi—they’d fought from day one—and then his parents, who couldn’t say hello without the other taking it wrong. Until now.
“I admit I’m a yeller.” Mateo grimaced. “I can go from zero to pissed off in nothing flat.”
“And I hold everything in,” replied Alastair.
Not surprising, given the guy’s demeanor. Dave would bet another night of playing out fantasies that Tawny was very much like her brother and that both took after their mother. In the months that he’d known the Torres family, and they’d all attended several events together now, he could probably count on less than two hands the words he’d heard from Tawny’s dad. The man took “the quiet type” to the extreme.
The father droned on about communications and problems. Too bad his parents hadn’t talked to Father Pat before they’d tied the knot. Maybe if they had, they would have stayed together instead of throwing away the last twenty years.
Tawny leaned over toward him. “I’m going to go set up the table for lunch, want to join me?”
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